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Learning strategies for reading and listening in the Swedish national syllabus for English : a case study of four English language teachers' best practices

Dahlberg, Linda LU (2016) ÄENM92 20161
Department of Educational Sciences
English Studies
Abstract
Language learning strategies are presented in several parts of the Swedish national syllabus for English for high school and teachers are expected to both teach learning strategies and to test and grade students’ use of them. Despite supporting documents, teachers have expressed an insecurity regarding what in the Swedish national syllabus for English is referred to as “[…] strategies to assimilate and evaluate the content of spoken and written English”(Skolverket, 2011a). These issues and the split state of the field of research of language learning strategies motivate the present study, with the purpose of documenting English language teachers’ best practices regarding language learning strategies for the receptive language skills,... (More)
Language learning strategies are presented in several parts of the Swedish national syllabus for English for high school and teachers are expected to both teach learning strategies and to test and grade students’ use of them. Despite supporting documents, teachers have expressed an insecurity regarding what in the Swedish national syllabus for English is referred to as “[…] strategies to assimilate and evaluate the content of spoken and written English”(Skolverket, 2011a). These issues and the split state of the field of research of language learning strategies motivate the present study, with the purpose of documenting English language teachers’ best practices regarding language learning strategies for the receptive language skills, reading and listening. Through a qualitative and interpretative analysis, the present study investigated how language learning strategies are presented and described and how Learning strategies for reading and listening can be treated in teaching, testing and assessment by examining Swedish national policy documents and interviews with four English language teachers. The results of this study suggest that learning strategies for the receptive language skills are an important part of English language teaching in the Swedish context. All of the teachers claim to work with strategies in their teaching and specific
examples of how to incorporate learning strategies for reading and listening in the teaching are provided by the teachers. However, the analysis revealed that there are issues regarding the testing, assessment and grading of students’ use of strategies that arise mainly due to the
interpretability of policy documents and due to the characteristics ascribed to language learning strategies. These issues affect how well equitable assessment that respects students’ educational rights can be established. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dahlberg, Linda LU
supervisor
organization
course
ÄENM92 20161
year
type
H3 - Professional qualifications (4 Years - )
subject
keywords
language learning strategies, strategies for reading, strategies for listening, English language teaching, testing, assessment, policy documents, syllabus
language
English
id
8884877
date added to LUP
2016-09-28 13:20:55
date last changed
2016-09-28 13:20:55
@misc{8884877,
  abstract     = {{Language learning strategies are presented in several parts of the Swedish national syllabus for English for high school and teachers are expected to both teach learning strategies and to test and grade students’ use of them. Despite supporting documents, teachers have expressed an insecurity regarding what in the Swedish national syllabus for English is referred to as “[…] strategies to assimilate and evaluate the content of spoken and written English”(Skolverket, 2011a). These issues and the split state of the field of research of language learning strategies motivate the present study, with the purpose of documenting English language teachers’ best practices regarding language learning strategies for the receptive language skills, reading and listening. Through a qualitative and interpretative analysis, the present study investigated how language learning strategies are presented and described and how Learning strategies for reading and listening can be treated in teaching, testing and assessment by examining Swedish national policy documents and interviews with four English language teachers. The results of this study suggest that learning strategies for the receptive language skills are an important part of English language teaching in the Swedish context. All of the teachers claim to work with strategies in their teaching and specific 
examples of how to incorporate learning strategies for reading and listening in the teaching are provided by the teachers. However, the analysis revealed that there are issues regarding the testing, assessment and grading of students’ use of strategies that arise mainly due to the 
interpretability of policy documents and due to the characteristics ascribed to language learning strategies. These issues affect how well equitable assessment that respects students’ educational rights can be established.}},
  author       = {{Dahlberg, Linda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Learning strategies for reading and listening in the Swedish national syllabus for English : a case study of four English language teachers' best practices}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}